A Federal High Court in Abuja has adjourned until 13th July for judgment in the Federal Government’s case against eight Chinese nationals and two other defendants accused of illegal mining activities in Nigeria.

Justice James Omotosho fixed the date after both the prosecution and defence teams adopted their final written addresses and urged the court to rule in their favour.

The case centres on allegations of unlawful quarrying operations and conspiracy involving mining activities allegedly carried out without legal authorisation.

The defendants are being prosecuted by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation on a three-count charge linked to illegal mining operations.

The accused Chinese nationals include Shen Yongchan, Mo Baixian, Xiao Bin, Huang Xu Fa, Ma Bingli, Yang Jian, Le Peiyin and Que Wenyong. Also listed in the suit are a Nigerian defendant, Hiyk Edward Desmond, and Wanda Quarry Company Limited.

Lead prosecuting counsel, Adeola Adedipe (SAN), urged the court to convict the defendants, arguing that the prosecution had sufficiently established its case through documentary and oral evidence presented during the trial.

Counsel to the defendants, Oladimeji Ekengba, however, asked the court to discharge and acquit the accused persons. The defence maintained that the prosecution failed to establish criminal liability against the defendants and argued that the charges lacked sufficient merit.

The legal team also informed the court that a reply on points of law had been filed in response to the prosecution’s final submissions.

The defendants were accused of conspiring between October 2022 and June 2024 to conduct mining activities within Quarry Lease No. 22284QLS allegedly belonging to Jinloys Nigeria Limited without lawful authority. They were specifically charged under provisions of the Miscellaneous Offences Act relating to unlawful quarrying operations.

The trial had earlier witnessed legal arguments over a no-case submission filed by the defendants, but the court dismissed the application after ruling that the prosecution had established a prima facie case requiring the defendants to enter their defence.

The case comes amid increasing government efforts to clamp down on illegal mining operations across Nigeria. Authorities have repeatedly raised concerns over revenue losses, environmental degradation, insecurity and foreign involvement linked to unregulated mining activities in several parts of the country.

Analysts believe the judgment could become significant in shaping future enforcement actions within Nigeria’s mining sector, particularly regarding foreign operators and compliance with mining regulations.